Southampton upgrading to fit LNG ships

This project, which port operator ABP is carrying out in partnership with Southampton-based Carnival UK, aims to meet growing demand from cruise lines and will enable P&O Cruises’ LNG-powered, newest flagship Iona to home port in Southampton from Spring 2020. The main bulk of the work will begin in November.

ABP Southampton director Alastair Welch said: “We continually invest in the port to adapt and develop to meet our customers’ growing needs, and we are committed to ensuring that this growth happens in the most environmentally sustainable way. We are very supportive of cruise lines embracing LNG power for their vessels.”

Eco-friendly future

As the next generation of P&O Cruises ships, Iona is expected to play a key role in the future of eco-friendly cruising and is the first of two new vessels of this class for P&O Cruises.

The vessel is being built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg and will be launched in May 2020, with the next ship on order to be delivered in 2022. The additional work to accommodate these new vessels will increase the passenger capacity at Ocean Terminal by 50%.

Along with infrastructure improvements to the quayside and within the Ocean Terminal itself, the project will also see the expansion of the existing 2,000 roof-mounted solar panel facility.